Classroom Organization

I have been thinking a lot lately about my future classroom, and the physical environment I would like to create.  As the physical set up of the classroom can affect student learning, I want to create a space that is organized, engaging, fun, and allows for a lot of movement.  Now, this is difficult since I do not have an actual space to work with, but the ideas are burning through my head like wildfire!  I began searching for ways to put my ideas to good use in the classroom and I cam across an article from www.scholastic.com that I wanted to share.  The author of the article, Nancy Jang, had some wonderful ideas and pointers that I think any teacher could use (or modify to fit their needs).  You can find this article, "Organizing and Reorganizing Your Classroom," under "Resources and Other Bloggers" to the right of this page.  I hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Thought of the day:  "Truly great teachers teach from the heart, not from a book."

Hindsight is Always 20/20

Today I was lucky enough to have my first interview for a teaching position.  I guess luck doesn't have much to do with it though... I worked hard through school and obtained all the skills needed to be an amazing teacher.  I believe the interview went well.  I have confidence in my abilities and I know I would be a good fit for the school; I'm hard working, enthusiastic, and want nothing more to make a difference in my students lives.

However, if you know me, then you know my nerves and hyper-energy kicked in during the interview.  Maybe it is because I am so passionate about teaching, maybe it is because I know the answers and want to get everything I possibly can in, maybe I just have nervous energy in a situation that could determine the rest of my life (come on, who wouldn't?)--I don't know.  Hindsight tells me, that I should have slowed down.  Actually, even while speaking I thought, "Courtney, slow down!"  But I couldn't; I was just to excited to stop.

If my rate of speech is the only negative they saw in that interview, then I know I will be fine.  I can work on my pacing.  After all, teaching is a continual learning and growing process.  So, keep your fingers crossed for me, and I will keep you posted on which way this road ends up going...


Thought of the day: "The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because its only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think. The way they see themselves. The way they see the world. You can change the way people live their lives. That's the only lasting thing you can create." — Chuck Palahniuk (Choke)